Author: On Common Ground News

GWINNETT COUNTY–A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged with porch piracy in connection with the thefts of several packages at an apartment complex, the Gwinnett County Police Department said today, Dec. 2.  The packages he took from his neighbors, however, were not the only discovery that police made.  Kyle Thomas Witzel, of Buford, who lives in the complex near 1500 Laurel Crossing, was identified on video surveillance stealing the packages from the community’s mailroom, police said. The investigation led police to Wtizel’s apartment, where they not only recovered several stolen packages but marijuana and anabolic steroids, police said.  Officers assigned…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – Two men were arrested in a late-night shootout on Saturday (Nov. 30) that left one of the suspects and a Georgia State Patrol trooper injured. The incident stemmed from an attempted street racing traffic stop, officials said. Three law enforcement agencies worked the incident: The Georgia State Patrol, Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations(GBI).   The GBI is now overseeing the officer-involved shooting.  The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Georgia State Patrol in a street racing traffic stop that led to the shootout around 11:40 p.m. at a Shell gas station…

ATLANTA –MARTA, Transit Link Authority (ATL) and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in partnership with counties and municipalities along the I-285 corridor, will hold public meetings on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, to gather feedback on the preliminary plans for the I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study.  The meetings offer commuters and residents the chance to learn and share their opinions about proposed transit services along the northern arc of I-285, one of the busiest corridors in Georgia. The I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study explores the potential to expand transit access using GDOT’s planned Express Lanes along the northern portion of…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Cooperative Extension will host a free lunch and learn Family and Consumer Sciences virtual class on Zoom and Microsoft Teams. The “SMART Goals & Vision Boards” class will be on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 11:30 a.m. This class will discuss a SMART goal, how it can be useful for your New Year’s resolutions, and how you can get a head start before the first of the year. Register for this class at https://bit.ly/4eU8pi8. The “Radon in DeKalb” class will be on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m. This class will be taught by the University of Georgia’s radon…

By Mark Brock DCSD Media Athletics Specialist DEKALB COUNTY, GA–The No. 8 ranked Stephenson Jaguars return to Class 3A state football playoff action on Friday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m., as they host the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets at Hallford Stadium.  Stephenson (9-3) is at home for the third consecutive week after defeating Whitewater (44-37) and Jenkins-Savannah (41-7) to reach the state quarterfinal round. The Jaguars offense has revolved around junior running back Anthony Booker, who has rushed for a combined 412 yards and seven touchdowns and added an eighth touchdown with a pass reception in the first two rounds of…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Due to forecasted cold temperatures, DeKalb County will open the following four warming centers for  homeless residents on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 28-Dec. 1, starting at 8 p.m.: Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Road, Atlanta  North DeKalb Senior/Community Center, 3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee  (see pickup schedule below for transportation to Frontline)  Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Drive (see pickup schedule below for transportation to Frontline)  Exchange Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia Drive(see pickup schedule below for transportation to Frontline)  During warming center activation, transportation pickups will be available to Frontline International as scheduled:  Chamblee Library, 4115…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County tax commissioner’s office completed its food drive, collecting 2,318 pounds of food to support the Atlanta Community Food Bank(ACFB) this holiday season.  The donation will help provide 1,932 meals for families in DeKalb and neighboring communities. Customers visiting any tax office location were also invited to drop off donations during the food drive.  “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all who joined us and contributed to the food drive, including the county’s Planning & Sustainability Department,” said Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson. “I especially want to recognize the employees in this office for their…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Gwinnett County government offices, except for those operations required for the comfort and safety of residents, will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. A Magistrate Court judge will be available at the Gwinnett County Detention Center during the holiday. Thursday, Nov. 28, is a trash and recycling holiday for residents living in unincorporated Gwinnett County. Service will be delayed by one day following the holiday. Residents who live within city limits should contact their solid waste hauler to find out if collection will be delayed due to the holiday. Haulers contact information can be found at GwinnettCounty.com/ResidentialServices. County offices will be…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– In observance of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 28, sanitation collection service for residential customers will be revised.  Customers are advised as follows: Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Normal collection day.  Thursday, Nov. 28 – Thanksgiving Day observed; no collection service.  Friday, Nov. 29 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Thursday, Nov. 28, will be serviced on Friday, Nov. 29.  The Seminole Road Landfill, and the Central and North Transfer Stations will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28, reopening on Friday, Nov. 29, during normal operating hours.  The Customer Care call center and administration building…